Afternoon in Nephi

This afternoon, I went down to Nephi Utah to visit my maternal grandparents; Don and Rula Gowers. I arrived around 2:15pm. Grandma was in the house and told me that she had just finished putting her feet up to prevent swelling in her ankles. She then proceeded to explain how she moved the couch cushions for optimum comfort and drainage.

After that we went into the kitchen for Grandma to drink her daily glass of Gatorade, to help ward off hyponatermia. At that same moment I realized I had not eaten lunch. I asked Grandma for a sandwich. She pulled out the bologna and asked if I liked butter or salad dressing "aka mayonnaise" on my sandwich. I said salad dressing. I asked if there was any mustard, but there was not. "Did you want ketchup?" she asked. "Ewww." I thought. "No." I answered. I added potato chips (of which any lunch is not complete without) and Grandma gave me a tub of fresh peeled peaches.

As I munched we discussed medical problems. I get this a lot. People find out I'm a nurse and inevitably they will say "Oh!" and ask me a question about some specific thing that I don't know about because it is not what I do, so I have forgotten it; except maybe the hazy memory here and there, or they start to tell me about all their ailments. I used to try to give them a somewhat intelligent answer or explain a concept or diagnosis better to them. Now I just say "I don't know." I wonder if this is how doctors feel? Sometimes I sigh to myself, but if you are my grandma and have managed to survive past your 90th birthday. I am all ears. What can I do to help your life be a little better; even if it might be just listening with the occasional "huh, hum, or grunt."

After lunch we looked at the Church News and I read an article aloud about people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the town of Luputa getting fresh water to their village with the help of LDS Charities.

Grandma then commented how she did not realize how may temples were in South America; 34 in all. We counted.

We spoke of family things, Jordan going into the MTC today. Grandpa went to his farewell. Kerrin is going to make me a temple dress. I am co-teaching a class on meal planning and couponing. Isn't Landon the best baby? He hardly ever cries. To that Grandma said "Do you know why Ethan and Landon are such good children?" I kind of already knew the answer, but I let her tell me anyway. "It's because Alice keeps them on schedule. They nap when they're supposed to, she feeds then when they're hungry and does not let them stay up late." Then she added. "If you ever have children, you would do well to take a page out of her book." Amen.

Grandpa ever the worker and tinkerer, was not at home. He and his Jazzy were over at the other house. Grandma and I went over to find him, but he was not there. I went back over later by myself when I was getting ready to leave. He was pruning a tree. He was pruning this tree because it was in the way of the workers who were putting aluminum siding on his house. The house needed to be painted again. At first Grandpa had thought about climbing on a ladder and doing it himself, but then thought better of it and decided to have the siding put up instead. It looks really good.

While talking to him in the back yard we munched on raspberries from the bush. According to Grandpa the crop has not been very big or plentiful this year. Never the less, we ate some anyway. When I put the fresh raspberries into my mouth, I was transported into summers of my childhood. Memories of my sisters, the swing and tree house, the huge trunk of dolls and fuzzy kittens from the next door neighbors came to mind. Grandma reading us bedtime stories as we sucked on orange cream-o and fudge icicles

Also of “helping” Grandpa do whatever he was doing. He was always so patient and so quite with me. I can only recall that he was upset with me once my whole entire life. I feel we have a special unspoken bond he and I; like our spirits understand each other very well. I love you Grandpa. Thanks to you both for making it a great afternoon.